Who Should I Start? Dee Eskridge or Tez Johnson

Sunday, August 17, 7:35 AM

Miami Dolphins wide receiver Dee Eskridge stepped up on Saturday with three catches for 53 yards and a touchdown on six targets in Miami's 24-17 win over the Lions. Eskridge scored the Dolphins' only touchdown of the first half on an 11-yard pass from Zach Wilson. The second-round pick from Western Michigan was playing close to home and got off to a rough start by fumbling his first punt return, but he bounced back and drew praise from coach Mike McDaniel for his ability to bounce back and put together a strong performance. Last year, Eskridge started the year on Miami's practice squad and only had three receptions for 44 yards in six games. His special team abilities seem to have him on an inside track to earn a spot on the roster out of camp this season, and he could be the team's fifth receiver behind Tyreek Hill, Jaylen Waddle, Nick Westbrook-Ikhine, and Malik Washington, who all sat out Saturday's preseason contest, giving Eskridge and rookie Theo Wease Jr. chances to step up and post big games.

Monday, November 24, 10:41 PM

Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Tez Johnson was one of the lone bright spots for his team in their 34-7 Week 12 loss to the Los Angeles Rams, hauling in three catches for 21 yards and a touchdown on four targets. The 23-year-old has now recorded five touchdown catches over his last six games played. Perhaps most encouragingly, Johnson played 86% of Tampa Bay's offensive snaps against Los Angeles even though Buccaneers wideout Chris Godwin returned to the field for the first time since Week 5. However, Bucs quarterback Baker Mayfield (shoulder) suffered a shoulder injury that forced him to exit Week 12 early and puts his status in question for Tampa Bay's Week 13 matchup against the Arizona Cardinals. Any missed time for Mayfield would be a blow to the fantasy outlook for Johnson and the rest of the Buccaneers' pass-catchers. Still, Johnson has emerged as a player worth targeting on the waiver wire in PPR leagues with 12 or more teams.